Wednesday, December 31, 2008

It's that time of the year again. Prediction, prediction, prediction. What would 2009 be?

At the end of every year all the "grandmasters" of feng shui will pop their heads out of the shell, just like the tortoises. Predicting this and forecasting that. After that they will retract their heads into the shell hibernating until the end of the year and the pathetic cycle starts all over again when the year comes to an end!

They never do any review monthly or periodically to confirm their predictions. Would they??

My prediction for the coming year is that by the end of next year these tortoises will pop out their heads again.

Another prediction; if it's not going to be a bad year, surely it's going to be a good year. However if neither happens, then it's going to be no change.

Monday, December 29, 2008

A Palestinian family rushing past a burning building after an Israeli missilestrike in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. — AP pic >Read More:

Hi,

I've just heard about this emergency campaign urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Already 280 people have been killed in this escalating conflict. Now is the time to issue a demand to world leaders that the spiraling violence that has characterized the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must come to an end. In 2009 let's push for real peace to be achieved between Israel and Palestine. To learn more and to take action, read the email below:

---------------------------------------------Dear friends,

As we watch the Gaza bloodshed with horror, appalled at how the crisis is spiraling further out of control, one thing is clear -- this violence will only lead to further civilian suffering and an escalation of the conflict.

There must be another way. Over 280 are dead and hundreds more injured -- rockets are striking Ashdod deep inside Israel for the very first time, and the sides are mobilising for invasion. A global response has begun, but it'll take more than words -- the immediate violence won't end, nor will wider peace be secured, without firm action from the international community.

Today, we're launching an emergency campaign which will be delivered to the UN Security Council and key world powers, urging them to act to ensure an immediate ceasefire, address the growing humanitarian crisis, and take steps to build real and lasting peace.1 Follow this link now to sign the emergency petition and send it to everyone you know:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_time_for_peace/98.php?

After eight or more years of ineffective US and global diplomacy -- and now Gaza's bloodiest day in recent memory -- we must issue a global outcry demanding that world leaders do more than make statements if they're to bring peace to this region. The UN, the European Union, the Arab League and the USA should now act together to ensure a ceasefire – which includes an end to rocket attacks into Israel and opening the checkpoints for fuel, food, medicine and other humanitarian aid deliveries.

With a new US President taking office in less than a month, a real opportunity exists to breathe new life into peace efforts. These latest hostilities require not only an immediate ceasefire but a commitment from Obama and other world leaders that resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the very top of their agendas. As the whole world is impacted by this ongoing conflict - we should demand nothing less.

In 2006 we mobilised for a ceasefire in Lebanon. For years we've worked to encourage a just and lasting peace, taking out billboards and ads across Israel and Palestine. Now as we head into 2009, we need to come together again to demand a peaceful and lasting resolution, instead of a further escalation of violence. Follow this link to put your name forward for peace:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_time_for_peace/98.php?

All sides to the conflict will continue to act as they have in the past if they believe that the world will stand by and allow them to do so. 2009 is a year that things can be different. As we face this crisis, and the possibilities of a new year, it's time for us to demand a ceasefire and work together to finally put an end to this cycle of violence.

Friday, December 26, 2008

What China is today was the result of this man. The charisma of Mao fitted his physical stature. He posed an impressive figure, tall and handsome. I shall post one of his most outstanding pictures once I found it. This picture depicts a tall and handsome Mao wearing a long gown strikingly standing against the wind holding a closed Chinese umbrella looking ahead with missionary zeal. This photo was apparently mistaken as depicting a charismatic Chinese Catholic missionary that it was hung at one of the Churches in Vatican City until someone pointed out the true identity of the photo.

(Updated: 26 Dec : Below is the photo )Of course, even today, it's not very expedient politically in the "free" world to praise Mao.

So I better stop here.

But before I go, Mao's opening sentence in his historic declaration on 1 October 1949 at Tiananmen Square, marked the beginning of a New China:"Today, the Chinese People have stood up!"That summed up Mao's struggle to bring dignity and respect back for China.

Three books in English I would like to recommend:

"The Red Star Over China" by Edgar Snow. Snow was in China at that time as a journalist and his was the first authoritative account on the Communist Party Of China. This book pricked the conscience of the Western aggressors and imperialists.
(I have not read this book yet.)

"The Morning Deluge" by Han SuyinThis book is a semi-biography of Mao, and the political developments of modern China after Sun Yat Sen's era.

"The Private Life Of Chairman Mao" by Dr. Li ZhisuiDr Li was Mao's personal physician up to his death. This book can be regarded as the continuation of Mao's life story after that of Han Suyin's book.

We are actually very fortunate to be able to savour nutritious tropical fruits without hurting our pockets. Local fruits immediately come to mind are of course the King of fruits, the durian. Then we have mangosteen, rambutan, duku langsat, watermelon, coconut, banana, papaya, mango, guava, and dragon fruit. Have I left out something? Yes, the pineapple.

If you are my regular reader, you would know that I take fresh juices everyday, prepared by myself. Initially, I did not include pineapple because from my past experience, I always had bowel problem after taking it. Then one day I decided to try again by adding a slice of pineapple in my fruit juice concoction. Two things I noticed: it had a lot of juice and it tasted, most delicious!!

And an added bonus!! No problem with my bowel. Don't ask me why or "how come"? I don't know. The only thing I know is that it's great to add pineapple in my juice preparation.

Then one day while typing on the keyboard, I noticed a different appearance in the skin texture of my lower arms. I couldn't believe my eyes! The skin of my lower arms has been blemished with little black spots ; a sign of ageing, for years! They didn't bother me for I knew it was due to the process of ageing. But this time it was a surprise!! The little black spots have disappeared!! Now you can ask me why or "how come"?

I attribute this to the pineapple juice! So I like to share with you some information on the pineapple. I shall not go into detail on the medicinal values of the pineapple, but will "copy and paste" the more relevant info for your easy reference. If you wish to go into detail, just click on the link provided.

Pineapples are a composite of many flowers whose individual fruitlets fuse together around a central core. Each fruitlet can be identified by an "eye," the rough spiny marking on the pineapple's surface. Pineapples have a wide cylindrical shape, a scaly green, brown or yellow skin and a regal crown of spiny, blue-green leaves and fibrous yellow flesh. The area closer to the base of the fruit has more sugar content and therefore a sweeter taste and more tender texture

Pineapple helps you strengthen your bones. The fruit is a rich source of manganese, which is required by your body to strengthen bones and tissues. If you have just one cup of pineapple everyday, you can fulfill 73% of your body's requirement for this mineral.

Pineapple contains micro-nutrients that experts believe protects against cancer and this micro-nutrients also break up blood clots and is beneficial to the heart. The ripe pineapple has diuretic properties. Pineapple juices also kills intestinal worms. It also relieves intestinal disorders and soothes the bile. Pineapple juice contains chemicals that stimulates the kidneys and aids in removing toxic elements in the body.Pineapple contains a mixture of enzymes called bromelain. Bromelain blocks the production of kinins that form when there is inflammation. Test have shown that this blocking property of Bromelain in pineapple helps reduce swelling brought about by arthritis, gout, sore throat and acute sinusitis. This also helps accelerate the healing of wounds due to injury or surgery. To help reduce inflammation, eat pineapple in between meals. If eaten during or after meals, the enzymes will be utilized for digesting food.

While many people often take extra vitamin C or drink extra orange juice when they have a cold, few consider eating pineapple. The benefits of pineapple when you have a cold or cough are the same as the benefits of orange juice, but there is an additional benefit of pineapple. Bromelain, which is found in pineapples, has been found to help suppress coughs and loosen mucus.

Due to its high vitamin C content, pineapples are good for your oral health as well. Vitamin C can reduce your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Vitamin C also increases the body's ability to fight invading bacteria and other toxins that contribute to gum disease

Pineapple has been thought good for heart conditions and indeed should not be used by people with haemophilia or by those with diseases of the kidneys and liver. This is because it seems to reduce the time taken to coagulate the blood - which is why it can be useful for heart patients.

Pineapple could be useful for women suffering from painful periods. Choose ripe fruits of good colour for pineapples do not become sweeter on storage if they are picked green. This is because the starch in the stem is taken up into the fruit and converted to sugar only at the final stage of ripening.

Pineapple has been shown to be important in maintaining good eye health and helping to protect against age-related eye problems. There are even some beneficial molecules hidden in the stems of pineapples. These molecules have been seen to act as a defense against certain types of cancer.

Pinapples are used to help cure bronquitis and throat infections. It is efficient in the treatment of arterioscleroses and anaemia.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Malaysian Insider features the article by The New Paper about the "granddaughter " of Warren Buffet, the 32-year-old abstract painter Nicole Buffett. Nicole is actually the adopted daughter of Buffett's youngest son, Peter, who married Nicole's mum when Nicole was just four years of age.

Let's read some of the comments:

[Warren Buffet does not believe in rewarding those he calls “members of the lucky sperm club”.

“I want to give my kids just enough so that they would feel that they could do anything, but not so much that they would feel like doing nothing.”

“I have not emotionally or legally adopted you as a grandchild, nor have the rest of my family adopted you as a niece or a cousin.”]

Well, the article is supposed to be about Nicole, but we get to savour the "Thoughts of Warren Buffet".

Monday, December 22, 2008

"Sarawak is truly multi-ethnic in nature. The politically dominant Malay Melanaus comprise 20 per cent, the commercially powerful Chinese comprise 30 per cent and the rest is made up of 26 non-Muslim indigenous communities collectively referred to as Dayaks.

The ethnic barriers are broken down further by the high percentage of mixed marriages registered estimated at 30 per cent of all mixed marriages in Malaysia annually."

So we can see the political scenario is very different from that of Peninsular Malaysia.

The elder statesman,Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has been the state's Chief Minister for the past 27 years already. I think people are tired of seeing the same old face.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the "shoes thrower"achieved instant fame worldwide for the "wrong reason"? There is now an entry for him in Wikipedia, amongst other information, it reports :

"A Saudi businessman has offered US$10 million to buy the shoes. "The shoes should be exhibited in a museum as they resemble a rocket that talks on behalf of all Iraqis," read a posting on website of Arabian Business magazine.

You want to have instant fame and possibly become an instant millionaire? Go throw shoes at Bush, but must be before January 20, 2009.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

This is a copy and paste from my blogger friend Romerz from his blog The Middle Ground with his kind permission:

[The MP for Bukit Bendera (my constituency) from DAP YB Liew Chin Tong, will be holding a talk this Saturday to brief anyone interested to know, what happened in parliament during this ongoing sitting (which has been extended) which started in mid-August.In his own words, the purpose for this briefing is;"Few in Malaysia know what actually happens in Parliament apart from snippets from the press. MPs sit in Parliament for hours, often frustratingly. But voters, even those who are informed on other matters, may not have a clue of how it works. It is probably "part of the design" of the Barisan Nasional government to neglect the importance of the House in national governance."

"This is an initiative by Liew Chin Tong, DAP MP for Bukit Bendera, to share with participants his take on what had happened in Parliament during its latest sitting which started in mid-August and ending on 18 December 2008."

"Issues like Pak Lah's reform bills on corruption and judicial appointments, education expenditure, extravagant wastage on Prime Minister's residence, parliamentary reforms and the economy will be discussed by the speaker."

Incidentally I knew YB Liew Chin Tong about 20 years ago when he was just a botak boy living in Subang Jaya. It was a very interesting incident when one evening I met this very observant and alert boy. His mannerism and enthusiasm in things etched a permanent slot in my memory. Up to this day, I still remember every detail of that fateful chance meeting.

And what a fateful meeting it was, and we meet again on homeground, Bukit Bendera,.....Rifle Range, Air Itam, to be exact!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Malaysian Insider carries an AP report that UN has given the go-ahead to conduct counter-attacks on the Somali pirates:

[On the same day Somali gunmen seized two more ships, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to authorize nations to conduct land and air attacks on pirate bases on the coast of the Horn of Africa country.

Somalia Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Jama, whose government asked for the help, said he was "heartened" by the council action. "These acts of piracy are categorically unacceptable and should be put to an end," he said.

Pirates have hijacked more than 40 vessels off Somalia's 1,880-mile coastline this year. Before the latest seizures, maritime officials said 14 vessels remained in pirate hands - including a Saudi tanker carrying $100 million worth of crude oil and a Ukrainian ship loaded with tanks and other heavy weapons. Also held are more than 250 crew members.

He Yafei, China's vice minister for foreign affairs, told the Security Council that China is considering sending warships to the Gulf of Aden, where they would join ships from the US, Russia, Denmark, Italy and other countries

Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the Vienna, Austria-based UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said Tuesday that it is important for nations to jointly confront pirates.

"Regional cooperation is essential," Costa said. "A few years ago, piracy was a threat to the Straits of Malacca (in Southeast Asia). By working together, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand managed to cut the number of attacks by more than half since 2004."]

Piracy is supposed to be a thing of the past. It is supposed to be the "misadventure" shown in movies purely for entertainment. Let us hope this curse is eradicated once and for all. Or am I just dreaming?

["Abhisit is untested and that is both good and bad. He has a clean record. He is well-educated, eloquent and principled so the public will likely give him a chance," says Panithan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.]

Abhisit entered politics at a youthful age of 27, which means he has 17 years behind him as a politician. He is from a wealthy family of Thai-Chinese origin, born in England and educated at Eton and Oxford, where he graduated with first class honours in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. His parents are said to be medical professors. His first name means "privilege" in Thai and his friends call him by his foreign nickname, Mark.

Thailand now gets a fresh look in its political landscape. Abhisit is said to be clean, polite and articulate. He certainly looks dashing and can easily pass as a film star!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Bobby McFerrin is best known for his 1988 super hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy".

It's one of my favourites as well.

Did you know that many thought he committed suicide? It would be a real irony if it was true, especially after watching the YouTube video below.

But don't worry, be happy! He is still alive today. To confirm click HERE:

Now that you know he is alive and kicking, please enjoy

"Don't Worry, Be Happy!"

Don't Worry, Be HappyFrom the Movie "Cocktails"Performed by Bobby McFerrin

Here is a little song I wroteYou might want to sing it note for noteDon't worry be happyIn every life we have some troubleWhen you worry you make it doubleDon't worry, be happy......

Ain't got no place to lay your headSomebody came and took your bedDon't worry, be happyThe land lord say your rent is lateHe may have to litigateDon't worry, be happyLook at me I am happyDon't worry, be happyHere I give you my phone numberWhen you worry call meI make you happyDon't worry, be happyAin't got no cash, ain't got no styleAin't got not girl to make you smileBut don't worry be happyCause when you worryYour face will frownAnd that will bring everybody downSo don't worry, be happy (now).....

There is this little song I wroteI hope you learn it note for noteLike good little childrenDon't worry, be happyListen to what I sayIn your life expect some troubleBut when you worryYou make it doubleDon't worry, be happy......Don't worry don't do it, be happyPut a smile on your faceDon't bring everybody down like thisDon't worry, it will soon pastWhatever it isDon't worry, be happy

Since yesterday, for the first time in my life, I have no eggs in my house!! I am 58 years old.

I was at the supermarket and the eggs (size C medium) was selling for RM9.65 for a tray of 30s.

To add insult to injury, the "C" grade was very suspicious as they were too small for that grade.

Just a few years ago, the price was less than half of what it is today. RM9.65 is the highest price ever for eggs in this country! I just refused to buy. How nice and effective if most are like me. By the third day, the price of eggs would tumble like the New York Stock Exchange!! Just dreaming!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

This post is about Qigong. It is one of the three fundamental pillars to good health. As I have mentioned before, the three pillars to good health are healthy diet, physical excercise and mental stability. Well, this is just my humble opinion.

This is from Wikipedia:"Qigong (or ch'i kung) refers to a wide variety of traditional cultivation practices that involve methods of accumulating, circulating, and working with Qi or energy within the body. The qi in qigong means breath or air in Chinese, and, by extension, life force, dynamic energy or even cosmic breath. Gong means work applied to a discipline or the resultant level of skill, so qigong is thus breath work or energy work."

There is actually no definite equivalent term in English for "qi", for the simple reason that it is not in the English vocabulary. The existence and power of this qi can even be demonstrated. During my younger days while practising Aikido, we did a simple demonstration by letting an opponent bend our arms. With proper qi concentration, the arm would stay rigid and not yield to the force to bend.

The popular Tai Chi is one form of Qigong. There are many forms of Qigong ranging from a very stationary type to the very graceful dance form. Take a walk around any recreation park early in the morning and you will be awed by the varieties of Qigong being practised. If you are in Penang, the Botanical Gardens in the morning is the place to go.

I have practised a number of Qigong variations, including Tai Chi; from the very taxing stationary form to the exhilarating dance-type Qigong. All in, I have done 6 types of Qigong.

Now I incorporate parts of the different Qigong movements to suit my personal preference.

Here, I would like to share with you good people a very simple and easy Qigong technique. It is quite well-known amongst the Chinese-educated community. It is very popular because it is so simple and easy to practise. It is called the "Three-One-Two Meridian Technique".

Take your time to watch the short YouTube presentation. It is in Mandarin, but not a problem for you can watch the demonstration in detail. The "Three" is about the 3 pressure points. (Remember to do both sides.) The "One" is the abdominal breathing technique; and the "Two" is the 2-step leg exercise.

This is my routine:While sitting in the toilet, I do the "Three Acupoints".Twice after the showers (morning and afternoon), I practise the "Two-step leg exercise".Before sleeping, I do the "One" abdominal breathing exercise.

Enjoy the YouTube videos.

Introduction

First Acupoint

Second Acupoint

Third Acupoint

Abdominal Breathing

Two-step leg exercise

I wish to thank my internet Sifu from whom I "borrowed" the above videos. You should take a look at his original blog HERE:

[For my other healthy lifestyle articles, please check on "Healthy Lifestyle" links on the right sidebar of this blog]

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[This is a service to the community. If you find this beneficial to your well-being, you may like to make a donation to help upkeep this web blog. Thank you]

Saturday, December 6, 2008

It is reported that the Harvard relationships started two decades back, forged during a popular constitutional law class, at the financial aid counter in Pound Hall, in a buddy's kitchen during a dinner party, through long nights at the Harvard Law Review.

As distance separated them, Obama was the one who tried to keep in touch — penning personal letters in the days before e-mail, picking up the phone to congratulate a friend on the birth of a child.

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Especially in this day and age, no matter how brilliant a person can be, he will not be able to do the job alone with any measure of success. This brings to the fore the hallmark of a great leader. As I wrote before the three most important factors that set a great leader from the average person : Charisma, Intellect, and Integrity.

I remember, it was a long time ago when my lecturer told us a story about Henry Ford. It was during a court hearing that the judge asked Ford how he could be so knowledgeable. Henry Ford told the judge that it was not necessary to use his head all the time; but using his fingers most of the time. As and when he required any information, all he needed to do was just to press the right button to summon his advisers!

I wonder whether our politicians have the courage to admit their limitations and to press the right buttons?

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Mr Liew has more than 30 years of experience in construction and real estate in Singapore and overseas. For five years, he was CEO of Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR), From 1997 to 1998, he was elected the President of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

Mr Liew graduated from the University of Singapore with a Civil Engineering degree in 1970 and is a registered professional civil engineer. In 2006, he was awarded Outstanding CEO of the Year in the Singapore Business Awards.

He was also conferred the CEO of the Year award at the 2007 Singapore CorporateAwards.

What has Mr Liew got to say about the current economic downturn? Take a look:

"Retrenchment is 'morally wrong'."

“When someone is retrenched, they lose their livelihood, their ability to support family, send children to school, pay their mortgages. There's lots of suffering,” he says.

Mr Liew knows what he is talking about for he had tasted the bitterness when his father was retrenched back in 1963.

Home was a rented room in a terrace house in Serangoon, where seven of them crammed into a single bedroom. After his father got fired, he remembers how worried they all were. “No work, no money,” he sums up grimly.

“I feel it more because I went through this myself. Maybe that's the difference between a CEO who has suffered through this and someone who hasn't. I'm from the proletariat,” he says.

“I believe in the theory of common happiness and common misery. In good times, give bonuses. In bad times, take a salary cut. If the cost savings of retrenching 100 out of 1,000 employees can be obtained by a wage cut, you achieve the same objective. It's a better way of maintaining viability, even at the expense of more people. It saves some jobs.”

“From our perspective, loyalty between company and staff is a two-way street,” he says. “Unless the company is loyal to its staff, they cannot be loyal to the company."

“You cannot treat people as dispensable items — in good times, we want you; in bad times, we don't want you. Our staff are an asset on our balance sheet and we must treat them as such.”

And what about this gem of a statement?

“In good times, prepare for bad times. In bad times, prepare for good times.”

This separates the mediocre from the excellence!! The wise from the foolish. The successful from the failure!! The visionary from the myopic.

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Brunei Times reports that pop singer Michael Jackson has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel.

According to the report, the 50-year-old pledged his allegiance to the Koran in a ceremony at a friend's mansion in Los Angeles. It was officiated by an Imam, apparently days before he was due to appear at London's High Court where he was sued by an Arab Sheikh.

It was reported that Jackson was infspired by his producer and songwriter friends David Wharnsby and Phillip Bubal

Jacko's new name is Mikaeel, the name of one of Allah's angels.

Strange, I didn't read about this in the main stream media but got the info from the email.